Sunday, July 3, 2011

come and goings

"Seriously, I can't believe you'd suggest it." Zeke winced a laugh as he brought Caitlin her mango smoothie at the campus coffee shop. He plopped himself down in the booth across from her and sipped at his mixed berry smoothie. "What would Smed think?"

Zeke shook his head, he couldn't think of his brother would go for it, but maybe he would. Zeke tried to think about it. As it was, they were off on their own adventure to the free concert on campus, fireworks included. A normal 4th, as possible.

"I was just kidding, you know." Caitlin made light of it.

"Don't you want one?" He smiled. "The only tattoo I ever had, didn't last that long." He shrugged. "Some artsy goth girl used to make little sculls on my arm with her trusty Sharpee in Biology."

"You let someone do that to you?" Caitlin questioned.

"It was nothing. Really." He wished hadn't brought it up. They weren't quite friends. He and the goth girl. They never even spoke outside of class. "Biology was just that boring."

Caitlin nodded as if she understood. She took his hand then. "We aren't that boring, are we?"

"No." He didn't believe that. He held on to her hand. No way, was he giving up. They'd been through so much already with the highs and lows of almost parenthood. Seriously, he didn't want to let any of this go. "Come on." He pulled her up. It was time to go.

They were going to enjoy this concert even if they had to spend most of the day and night outdoors. He put his arm around her. He loved the weight of her body next to him. Part of him wanted to cry and yet the rest of him yearned for this positive energy stirring. Zeke smiled. He bent down to kiss her forehead. He saw her smile back. They were going to be OK. He just knew it.